Collection, segregation and transport of solid waste, availability of dust bins, disposal of construction debris and all issues related to solid waste management in the city is under focus as the Central Government will rate as many as 75 cities, including Coimbatore, for sanitation.
According to a Ministry of Urban Development notification, solid waste management will be given 60 per cent weightage, 15 per cent for availability and use of household individual toilets and public and community toilets, and five per cent each for city-level sanitation plans, information, education and behaviour change communication activities. The rating will be done by January next year and this is the first such survey after the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
K. Vijayakarthikeyan, Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner, told The Hindu , that the Corporation was working on construction of new toilets, use of Swachh Bharat logos, and the waste management programme. The vermi compost plant is already set up and the first production is expected in four weeks.
An official of the Corporation said that the focus will be on waste management and building more toilets. The civic body will also create awareness among the public on these issues.
The city has 365 community toilets. It has assessed that about 6,000 applications will be received in the city for construction of toilets in individual households under the Swachh Bharat Mission in the next five years. It has already received 2,000 applications. “The city is moving to the next level in solid waste management. The Corporation plans to buy more bins and create awareness. It is a continuous process,” the official added.
